Today’s Current Affairs: NASA’s Juno spacecraft discovers Jupiter’s elusive fifth moon, Amalthea
NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently captured a glimpse of Jupiter’s fifth moon, Amalthea, as it transited the planet’s iconic Great Red Spot. This small but intriguing natural satellite is often overshadowed by its larger siblings, but its mysterious qualities continue to pique the interest of researchers. Amalthea, resembling a potato in shape, is believed to emit more heat than it receives from the Sun, leading to various theories about its energy source. As exploration of this enigmatic moon continues, scientists hope to uncover the truth behind its unique characteristics.
1. How many moons does Jupiter have in total?
- a) 90
- b) 97
- c) 101
- d) 95
Answer: d) 95
2. What are the names of Jupiter’s four largest moons?
- a) Titan, Triton, Europa, Ganymede
- b) Callisto, Io, Phobos, Deimos
- c) Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, Amalthea
- d) Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto
Answer: d) Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto
3. How does scientists describe the shape of Amalthea?
- a) Perfect sphere
- b) Oval
- c) Cubical
- d) Potato
Answer: d) Potato
4. Why is Amalthea shrouded in mystery according to scientists?
- a) Its unusual color
- b) The mysterious glow it emits
- c) Its irregular shape
- d) The extra heat it emits compared to what it receives from the Sun
Answer: d) The extra heat it emits compared to what it receives from the Sun
What did NASA’s Juno spacecraft spot earlier this year?
NASA’s Juno spacecraft spotted the elusive fifth moon of Jupiter, known as Amalthea.
What is special about Amalthea?
Amalthea is Jupiter’s fifth largest moon out of the 95 known moons. It has humble dimensions, resembling a potato and made up of loosely held-together rubble pile rather than solid rock.
When was Amalthea spotted by Juno?
Amalthea was spotted by Juno on March 7 as it passed by Jupiter for the 59th time.
Why is Amalthea shrouded in mystery?
Amalthea is shrouded in mystery because scientists believe it emits more heat than it receives from the Sun, and it’s still unknown where this extra energy is coming from.
What are some theories regarding the heat emitted by Amalthea?
One theory is that Amalthea receives heat directly and indirectly from Jupiter. Another theory suggests that heat may be produced by tidal pressures within Amalthea caused by Jupiter’s tight grasp.
Why is Amalthea often forgotten in scientific discussions?
Amalthea is often forgotten in scientific discussions because its significance is overshadowed by that of its four larger siblings – Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. However, continued exploration is necessary to unravel the truth about this mysterious natural satellite.
Today's Current Affairs brought news of NASA's Juno spacecraft discovering the elusive fifth moon of Jupiter, named Amalthea. This small but intriguing natural satellite was spotted as it passed in front of Jupiter's Great Red Spot. Amalthea, which is dwarfed by its larger siblings, measures 250 km at its longest point and 128 km at its narrowest. Scientists believe this moon resembles a potato and is more of a rubble pile than solid rock. Juno captured this rare sight on its 59th flyby of Jupiter, revealing Amalthea as a tiny black dot against the planet's red cloud bands. The mystery surrounding Amalthea's heat emissions, exceeding what it receives from the Sun, continues to puzzle researchers, with theories pointing towards both direct and indirect heat sources from Jupiter and internal tidal pressures. Despite being overshadowed by its giant siblings, Amalthea's significance in our understanding of Jupiter's moons cannot be ignored.
